2001 Corvette Coupe

The year was 1963. Engineer Zora Arkus-Dantov, a legendary car maker and the best of his generation, introduced a masterpiece. It was in the guise of a split-windowed Corvette Sting Ray coupe with a Z06 Regular Production Option package. The base price was then $4,257 - a pretty hefty cost back then - yet it promised to deliver a performance that cannot be surpassed even by "the world's costliest cars."

Little did Arkus-Dantov know that few decades after, another vehicle would have the same glitz of his obra maestra.

The 2001 Corvette Coupe, like its predecessor is every bit of a showroom race car. And yes, it is still one of the world's most expensive rides. But its performance has made its $50,000-dollar sound reasonable. General Motor, the company that assumed production, touts a four-second 60 mph acceleration. They also promise an excellent handling and refinement that car enthusiasts may only enjoy from the fifth-generation world-class sports car.

They were telling the truth.

2001 Corvette Coupe Specs

A 5.7-liter LS1 LEV-compliant V8 engine gives the ride a pushrod power that makes it worthy to claim an address as the king of the road. Behind the hood, 350 horsepower is produced at 5,600 rpm. The torque is levelled at 360 ft lbs with 4,400 rpm.

Whistle worthy bliss is just as delightful behind the wheel. The car is built with a standard an automatic transmission with four speeds. In as little as four seconds, drivers can be up and running at 60 mph acceleration. Upgrades, however, can be availed by those who hanked for an adrenaline rush from greater speed and power. Manufacturers also produced units with six-speed manual transmission. This cuts the trap time by half of a second.

What does this mean exactly for the car aficionados? They can simply leave the showroom with the lightest, fastest and safest Corvette. This is worth reiterating: the six speed manual transmission is built to have an aggressive torque multiplication. The Z06 therefore can rip from zero to 60 mps and corners at one full G.

Safety, among others, is not compromised with the speed. The 2001 Corvette coupe comes with several safety features that keep the car levelled at the road even with high hustle. The acceleration slip regulation or its traction control is only one of the few aspects worth mentioning about the car. This standard equipment helps drivers gain control over slippery surfaces.

Its aesthetics is just as dazzling. Starting from the manhole-sized wheels, the car promises to allow braking even on a short distance. Thanks, mostly, to the antilock brakes enhanced further by the massive front and rear tires that provides prodigious level of road grip. The wheel's rubber maintains a good friction and stability because of the fully independent four-wheel SLA height-adjustable suspension. Add the Active Handling System to the party and the car would stay in line - even if the driver fails to do so.

Final Thoughts

It's highly striking performance that can be enjoyed for not more than $50,000 is an offer that's difficult to resist. The 2001 Corvette coupe is one that gives a bang for the back. No other vehicle comes close to the Z06.

Among the notable aspects about this car is its ultra-high level of performance, livability on every driver's needs and practically a bargain cost. Next to other sports cars, virtually nothing can give a better value for money. It comes at par with global standards and tastes without poking too big of holes on car enthusiasts' savings.

This Corvette coupe makes a perfect buddy for financially-wise drivers who often get an itch to push the pedal to the metal. Given its fuel-efficiency, it may also satisfy drivers who are looking for a rad ride that they can parade along the streets on a daily basis.

Needless to say, this is a car that can serve two purposes and hit two birds with 50,000 bucks.

On the other hand, there are some of those who gripe about the cheesy interior design. The slow kick-down of the automatic transmission may also be a peeve. But these rarely become a big issue.

If you are yet to be convinced, look through the comments to see what other drivers think about the 2001 Corvette Coupe. Better yet, leave a feedback and let other enthusiasts know what you think of the ride.